Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1887-08-26
ANiI-sALOoN REPUBLICANS.
Rev. DIR. Miner Answers the Signers o.
Their Recent Address


Rev. DR.. Miner has written an omen let.
Ter 10 the signers of the recent Massachu-
setts anti-saloon republican address in
which he says: Your document is well
written and plausible, but deceptive and
misleading in its position. Had il no
clerical names attached it would be a less
palpable affront to the Christian con
science of the commonwealth 1t is no.
tlceaole that you do not assume to speak
In the name of the republican party, but
only or traction OF their number You
imply that the 1879 who voted for Sub
mission of amendment resolve" are all
opposed to the saloon. Nothing is more
deceptive. Many favored the resolve
simply on the ground that the people have
q right to pass upon the question, others
hoping that by some chance through re-
Jtctlon by the people or otherwise the
republican party might be rid of this bette
NOR. Your party convention did not ia
vor the amendment itself, but simply
favored submitting the question to the
people, leaving you entirely at liberty to
oppose The measure when it should come
before the people as your brethren have
done in Michigan, Texas and other places.
The doctor then takes the republican
party to task because they did not com
look i'll vain for bold demand that the
saloon be absolutely suppressed, adding,
'that the saloon may continue. may even
preserve its present spotism,' its politl-
Cal and pecuniary eXactions, " its power
and tyrrany," but the "better sentiment
OF the state will not submit to the "des-
pollsm" extended. How very eXacting
and unreasonable the better sentiment of
the State must be Even this is not
claimed for the republican party, not even
for yourselves, "anti sao0nists" though
you are, but for the "better sentiment of
the State" The temperance character of
legislation is ridicuied Not one in 10
bills passed will essentially disturb a sin
gle liquor-seller One would conclude,
he continues, from the tone of your an
peal that the democratic party of Bos-
ton is responsible for all the liquor
selling in Boston. The truth is the
whole responsibility rests with the police
governors. One thing you make as clear
as day-your hatred for the democratic
party. But if the democratic party
Is the great rum power it is
plain that the republican party
IS its agent, since it grants all licenses.
ms Is the cold fact" But the chief aim
of your manifesto is to place the prohibit
tory party in false light. The exigencies
OF the republican party require this. Sen
ator Morse said that the prohibitory party
defeated three or four who would have
voted for submission. You place the
number at II or 10. Before the campaign
Is over, ! have no doubt the number Will
become 80. This you say is "cold fact"
am very glad to have yourau hority, that
so many were defeated: hence you hold
the prohibition party responsible for the
defeat of the resolve
But why 90 outside your own party
for the responsibility Did not II
republicans vote against the resolve Was
1t not entirely in your power, as a party,
to vote for the prohibitory candidates in
every one of those respective districts, thus
making sure the passage of the resolve
Is not this "cold facty" l. it not as much
colder" than the other as 81 exceeds IL
Or 10 Such attempts, not to further an
important cause, but to place true and I'M
friends Of that cause in a false
light. might be looked for from an imma-
lure debating clube, but can enhance the
good name of neither national officials nor
igniiied clergymen. The republican
1arty, finally, has no claim on the support
If the prohibitionists. 1t never eXpouud- |
I'd prohibition, and it cannot be depended
lpon to suppress the saloons. The demo |
ratio party is a better temperance party
n the South than the republican party |
North. From both good men must come |
nut, join hands and save the nation from |
he corruption of politics and the curse of
liquor.